List of The Shield episodes

The Shield is an American crime drama television created by Shawn Ryan and starring Michael Chiklis. The series premiered on FX on March 12, 2002 and ended November 25, 2008, totaling 88 episodes over seven seasons, plus one additional mini-episode.

Eighteen months into the "Farmington Project", Detective Vic Mackey and his Strike Team prepare to take down a major drug dealer who has never before been caught with product. Meanwhile, following a homicide, Detectives Wyms and Wagenbach discover that a child is missing, sold to a pedophile by her drug-addicted father. Captain David Aceveda installs Detective Terry Crowley as a new member of the Strike Team in order to have an inside man to root out their corruption. The episode ends with Mackey taking the opportunity to kill Crowley during the high risk raid.

After the death of a member of the Strike Team on a high-risk raid, Aceveda begins to investigate the real circumstances behind the raid. Officers Lowe and Sofer find a dying man being mugged, eventually linked to a Mexican gang.

It's Sweep-day on the Farm, with all outstanding warrants to be served. Mackey and the Strike Team move to take down an old foe, arresting a basketball star in the process, seeing a chance to affect sports history and make some money in the process.

A gunfight breaks out in a crowded club between two local rappers which could potentially start a gang war. To further complicate matters, one of Mackey's contacts was involved in the shootout. Mackey and the Strike Team try to prevent the conflict from escalating.

Aceveda insists that Mackey take uniformed cops in with them to bust an Armenian gang's drug delivery. After the bust, Margos Dezerian is caught among the Armenian gang and Lowe sees the Team take a portion of the drugs for themselves. But in the end Vendrell ends up having the drugs and the vehicle they're in stolen from them. While the search for the drugs and the truck goes on, Mackey learns that his son is autistic.

When the body of a young hooker is found in the district, Wagenbach and Wyms get the full resources of the Barn for 24 hours and the help of the FBI to search for Wagenbach's serial killer. Meanwhile, The Strike Team busts an underage prostitution ring, and Capt. Aceveda continues to investigate Mackey.

7

7

"Pay in Pain"

D. J. Caruso

Shawn Ryan

April 23, 2002 (2002-04-23)

5012-01-106

When Mackey and Vendrell hook up with a cop from another precinct to investigate the shooting, Vendrell sets off an explosive confrontation with a suspect by making a racial slur; fortunately, Mackey defuses the situation. Wagenbach and Wyms search for a serial killer and bring in a psychic on a complaint from the son of one of her clients, and Aceveda calls internal affairs after getting Lowe's affidavit.

Allegations against the Strike Team are front-page news, and the team is broken up pending the investigation. Mackey threatens to reveal that Officer Lowe is gay if he won't recant his statement about the Strike Team. In the meantime, Mackey and Wyms find themselves following the trail of a batch of "cupid" meth, while Vendrell and Wagenbach try to get along on a case.

A planted gun in a truck-jacking case causes complications for the Strike Team, and now they're left to clean up their own mess. The rift between Officers Lowe and Sofer deepens, causing Aceveda to intervene. Wyms deals with the mess of her family during a visit from her daughter.

Mackey helps Connie quit her crack addiction by going cold-turkey in her desperate attempt to keep her son, leaving Vendrell and Lemansky to investigate a strip-club mugging ring. Wagenbach follows his instincts on a serial killer case and Sofer is bitten by an HIV-infected perpetrator. Acevada is forced to face a ghost from his past.

The Strike Team mediates a dispute between Rondell Robinson and the Nation of Islam while Wagenbach and Wyms investigate a brutal home invasion in the tight lipped Korean community. Aceveda revisits his past.

12

12

"Two Days of Blood"

Guy Ferland

Kurt Sutter & Scott Rosenbaum

May 28, 2002 (2002-05-28)

5012-01-111

While Mackey answers Assistant Chief Gilroy's call for help in covering up a hit and run before Wagenbach intuits the facts of the case, Vendrell and Lemansky follow the trail of a gunrunner with a penchant for cockfights. Aceveda turns to Wyms after a double homicide raises ire and fear within an ignored community.

13

13

"Circles"

Scott Brazil

Shawn Ryan

June 4, 2002 (2002-06-04)

5012-01-112

In the aftermath of a riot, cops are being lured into ambush shootings by a rash of bogus 911 calls. Mackey and Captain Aceveda must work together to stop these attacks and solve the problems in The Grove, while Assistant Chief Gilroy tries to pit the two against each other to save his own job.

While Mackey searches for his wife and children, the Strike Team allow more drugs into Farmington through a corrupt connection. But when their latest shipment turns bad, they head to Tijuana to uncover the person behind their tainted cocaine. Wagenbach and Wyms try to track down the man responsible for fire necklacing the captains of two separate gangs.

As Mackey gets closer to finding his family, the Strike Team focuses their attention to Armadillo after he burns down Tio's HQ. Mackey must now prevent Wyms from finding out the truth about his connection to Tio and his men. Wagenbach is followed around by the new civilian auditor to solve a meter-maid murder, and Sofer and Lowe try to clear up issues between feuding neighbors.

Still fuming from the death of Tio and his brawl with Armadillo, Mackey takes a day off and leaves the Strike Team with Aceveda, only to end up helping an old partner bust the man who helped him lose his job. Wagenbach and Wyms search to find the people behind the torture and mutilation of a woman who may still be alive, and Lowe fails to back up Sofer's side of the story from her shooting.

Now that Mackey is back to work, he and Vendrell go undercover as dirty cops to find the man behind a robbery/murder. Wagenbach and Wyms track down an old rival of Wyms after a turned in gun is connected to a previous case. In an attempt to get the Asian vote in the election, Aceveda assigns Lowe and Sofer to watch over a Korean parish.

Mackey and Emma try to help a woman in an abusive relationship. Mackey and the Strike Team begin to make plans for the Money Train take down, even though the greenlight still has them on their toes. When Aceveda tells Wagenbach that he embarrassed the department with the Bob & Marcy case and that Wyms is now lead on all their cases, he's forced to take any action necessary to prove himself in a new homicide. Sofer finally makes a stand against Yassirah.

When Mackey discovers that Gardocki has been burned as payback, the rest of the team does everything they can to put an end to Armadillo. Wyms makes headway on her investigation against Mackey after a conversation with Corrine, and Wagenbach takes Sofer under his wing as they try to find the suspect of a Thai Town beating.

22

9

"Co-Pilot"

Peter Horton

Shawn Ryan & Glen Mazzara

March 4, 2003 (2003-03-04)

5012-02-209

Flashback to the first day of the Barn. Under pressure to get results, Mackey and his new Strike Team make an impression on the streets. Wagenbach and Wyms realize they make a good team, and Aceveda discovers he doesn't have as much power as he thought that he would.

When Lanie's report on the Barn is leaked to the press, everyone suddenly fears for their jobs, including Aceveda, mentioned as the reason for most of the problems. Mackey and Vendrell deal with a bail-skipping Gilroy while Lemansky shows the newest member of the Strike Team the ropes. Wyms faces some of her own demons as she and Wagenbach try to uncover the culprit behind a possible robbery/homicide and Sofer comes to a startling realization.

His face healed, Gardocki comes up with a plan to take down the Money Train. A federal criminal comes back to Farmington, and the Team tries to use every connection trick and resource to bring him in to prove the Barn is still powerful. Wagenbach and Wyms investigate the rape of a young girl which leads to information that puts the case in a new light. Plus, an old friend from the past reappears to make Lowe's life hell.

While the Strike Team puts the finishing touches on the money train take down, Mackey works with Wagenbach and Wyms to find a missing child. Aceveda gets an unwanted visit from the Chief, and Lowe receives an unpleasant surprise.

26

13

"Dominoes Falling"

Scott Brazil

Shawn Ryan

April 1, 2003 (2003-04-01)

5012-02-213

When a gang execution hits close to home for Wyms, Mackey, Garris, and Wagenbach work together to find the culprit before anyone else gets hurt. Vendrell, Lemansky, and Gardocki are forced to choose between hitting the Money Train without Mackey or letting it go. Sofer receives some life changing news and Lowe's harassment reaches a whole new level.

Season 3 follows the Strike Team attempts of lying low after the Money Train Heist. However, their efforts are hindered as the repercussions of the heist start to pursue them, which brings some tension between Shane, Lem, and Tavon. Also, Aceveda looks for his replacement as he prepares to take the seat of councilman.

The Strike team's attempt to play by the book comes to an abrupt end when they discover that two gangs, the Byz Latz and the One-Niners, are attempting to alter the balance of power by acquiring MP5 submachineguns. Claudette and Dutch investigate the murders and feet amputations of four Armenian men by Armenian mobsters searching for the stolen cash from the money train. Meanwhile Danny, who is doing temp work at a high school while waiting for an appeal, discovers that she might be able to get her old job back.

Tension within the group begins to mount as the Strike Team attempt to rectify a mistake Vic made, when he decided to use some of the cash from the stolen money train during a botched gun-running sting. Meanwhile, Dutch and Claudette seek the help of a college honor student named Esteban, the only survivor in the murder of two latino gang members, one of them his close friend.

A prostitute seeks the help of the police in her quest to bring down her pimp. Claudette assigns Vic to the case against his wishes, which puts him on the verge of going over the edge. Dutch uncovers a disturbing trend of rapes, and a politician is arrested for solicitation.

Vic struggles with Claudette's new supervision of the Strike Team. Marked bills lead Aceveda and a federal agent closer to the truth about the Armenian money-train heist, in an episode with a recurring motif of people not reporting crimes against them. In the episode Aceveda is held at gunpoint by two thugs and forced to perform oral sex on one of them.

When the ex-wife and child of Julien's former partner Tommy, are murdered, Tommy becomes a suspect, prompting Julien to team up with Mackey to conduct their own investigation. Elsewhere, Shane goes undercover to catch a group attacking gay prostitutes, and Claudette and Dutch investigate a rape case against Aceveda's orders.

Vic and the Strike Team decide to take risky measures to protect themselves from being linked to the Money Train heist. Unfortunately, their plan is interrupted when one of Vic's open cases is suddenly linked to a narcocorrido song.

An oversight puts Waylon and Trish in serious danger during an undercover job and Claudette is to blame. Meanwhile, Tommy makes a drastic decision when he realizes nobody in the Barn can help him get back on the job.

When two high-profile murders are linked to each other, Aceveda orders Wyms to get the entire Barn involved before gang and racial violence breaks out. Mackey uses the case to leverage himself and the Strike Team back into the streets of Farmington.

Aceveda finds himself in a near-fatal confrontation, and enlists Vic to help him take down the suspects in order to help service his own personal agenda. Meanwhile, after losing her position of power, Claudette rejoins Dutch on the search for the cuddler rapist as they get a stunning break in the case.

During a routine bust on bangers, Vic and the Team discover a money laundering ring that reaches far and wide in the crime community. Meanwhile, Dutch takes the chilling confession of the man who was arrested in the serial-rape case, and Danny goes undercover.

38

12

"Riceburner"

Scott Brazil

Adam E. Fierro & Scott Rosenbaum

May 25, 2004 (2004-05-25)

5012-03-312

When Aceveda assigns the Strike Team to serve a high-risk warrant against a mob killer to service his political agenda, they find themselves embroiled in a hostile struggle with the Korean community. Now the Team must find out how to put an end to the situation before they end up casualties of a racial feud. Meanwhile, one of Vic's informants works with Danny on finding stolen chairs, while having eyes for her.

39

13

"Fire in the Hole"

Guy Ferland

Kurt Sutter & Charles H. Eglee

June 1, 2004 (2004-06-01)

5012-03-313

When a mole in the treasury department is discovered and the framed suspect in the Armenian money train robbery turns up missing, the Strike team race to find the suspect before their cover is blown. Meanwhile, Claudette attempts to make amends with the Decoy Squad by going undercover to help them on a case.

With the Armenian hitman, Margos Dezerian, hot on their trail, the Strike team sweeps the streets of the Armenian community to find him before he finds them. After catching a break, Aceveda's suspicions grow about the Strike Team's involvement with the Money Train robbery. Meanwhile, Dutch and Claudette investigate a case that could repeal hundreds of convictions, which leaves Claudette having to choose between her conscience and her career.

41

15

"On Tilt"

Scott Brazil

Shawn Ryan & Glen Mazzara

June 15, 2004 (2004-06-15)

5012-03-315

When Aceveda confirms that the Strike Team is the target of an Armenian mob hitman, Margos Dezerian, Mackey must take matters into his own hands. Meanwhile, Wyms' career is on the line when she disobeys Aceveda's orders to put a case to rest that may prove the innocence of convicted felons.

Season 4 features the new captain of The Barn, Monica Rawling who implements controversial federal asset forfeiture laws to control drug dealing in Farmington, which is controlled by the leader of the One-Niners gang, Antwon Mitchell, who has just been released from prison. To stop this, Rawling empowers Vic, whose Strike Team has disbanded since the last season forcing them to reunite.[2]

Vic is no longer the cop he used to be, acting adrift after his past actions have caught up to him. The strike team has dissolved, leaving Mackey to menial busts that keep him off the streets. When Aceveda moves on to his new City Council position, Captain Monica Rawling takes over the Barn and empowers Vic to implement her controversial anti-gang policies.

Mackey tries to help an old acquaintance find a wayward teenager, but the search quickly turns ugly when the missing teen appears to have been involved in a shoot-out. Meanwhile, Shane heads out into the field with his new partner Army, teaching him shady police tactics and seeing how far he'll go to be partnered up. Plus, Aceveda spends his last day trying to bury Vic for good, which makes things difficult for Rawling trying to take his place.

With Farmington on the brink of a gang war, Monica and Vic race to find the catalyst and stop the bloodshed, enlisting Antwon's help along the way. Still in the doghouse, Dutch decides to take action in thawing the relationship between Claudette and the D.A. Danny and Julien get up close and personal with the Farmington 1-Niners, while Monica looks to Vic for support when the implementation of her property seizure policy challenges her morality.

When Monica puts Vic on the trail of an escaped fugitive in Farmington, he must continue to prove his worth while playing it straight. Claudette gets suspicious of the D.A's motives when she and Dutch are assigned to investigate a major drug dealer who ends up being a minor offender. David seeks an illicit outlet for the troubling feelings caused by his rape. Vic decides to bring Shane closer as his fears about Shane's connection to Antwon Mitchell rise.

A tip from Lem's juvie leads Vic and Monica to take down a major heroin operation with connections to Antwon Mitchell. Monica continues to battle Aceveda as she tries to sell her new policies to the community, and Julien begins to doubt her methods. Claudette loses trust in Dutch when she suspects he made a backroom deal with the D.A. And Shane and Army find themselves in over their heads with Antwon when he blames them for Vic's heroin bust.

Vic and Monica strike a deal with the DEA to shut down Mitchell's tar heroin operation. When the bust comes up empty, Vic's suspicions of Shane grow, until Shane proves himself by coming up with a key piece of evidence that reveals a large stash of tar being stored at a local church. Meanwhile, Dutch and Claudette's friendship continues to feel strain as they try to tie a young woman's murder to a suspected serial killer. Plus, Julien takes a stand against Monica's policy, then goes to David for support when she suggests he consider transferring out of Farmington.

Just as Monica and Vic get close to a big break in the Garage Sting, Chief Phillips unexpectedly hands over the bust to the Organized Crime Unit. He blames the decision on an emerging PR scandal involving a videotape of Vic at the church bust that was leaked to the Assistant Chief through Aceveda's office. Vic uses his leverage with the Byz Lats to find a Russian mob leader before the mobster flees the country. Monica threatens two foster care social workers with jail after a young girl is found close to death in her foster home, then tells Julien if he doesn't put in for a transfer, she'll request one for him herself.

Monica and Vic rush to get their informants off the street after two C.I's are found brutally murdered. Meanwhile, as Dutch and Claudette investigate a brutal beating and robbery, a case from the past forces Dutch to take one in the line of duty. Plus, Vic suspects he's being set up when Shane comes to him after his situation with Antwon and Halpern spins out of control.

Monica orders her units to turn the streets of Farmington inside-out when two officers mysteriously disappear after answering a 911 call. Shane tries to make amends with his old crew after Vic agrees to help him get out from under Antwon, but things don't work out as planned. Dutch and Claudette convince Monica to let them take active roles in the case of the missing officers, but soon find themselves at a dead end with the only witness being clinically insane.

51

10

"Back in the Hole"

Scott Brazil

Story by: Shawn RyanTeleplay by: Elizabeth Craft & Sarah Fain

May 24, 2005 (2005-05-24)

5012-04-410

Vic and Shane confront Captain Rawling about the hidden videotape and information about Antwon and Angie's body. Monica forces them to take a polygraph. Aceveda goes overboard with the hooker and realizes he's not "a good man" for doing so. He ends the relationship.

Vic and the Strike Team use their leverage on the One-Niners to track down anyone involved with the cop killings. Their hunt leads them down an unexpected path with the Russian mob. Monica puts pressure on the team to come clean about any of their dealings with Antwon. Dutch and Claudette investigate a gang shooting and soon realize their key witness is close to the Barn, and has something to hide.

Vic tracks down the Russian involved in the cop-killers but an accidental explosion kills him. Vic discovers Antwon had a half-brother and his involvement with the murdered cops. Aceveda is blackmailed by the man who raped him. Antwon cuts a deal with DEA.

Enraged by the prospect of Antwon Mitchell's release from prison, Monica Rawling decides to go behind the DEA's back. She asks the Strike Team to find and arrest the Salvadoran drug lord Mitchell is to provide information about before the DEA does. The Strike Team is successful but Monica loses her job after an angry DEA chief threatens to cut off federal funding from Los Angeles unless she is fired. Rawling stays at the Barn just long enough to arrest Mitchell upon his arrival. Danny goes home from the hospital and is tended to by Julien. The Internal Affairs detective that Rawling called reports to her and informs her that they discovered the packet of heroin in Lem's car and switched it for a fake.

Season 5's plotline is concerned with the attempts of Internal Affairs Lt. Jon Kavanaugh to bring down Vic Mackey for the murder of Terry Crowley as well as other crimes. He does this mainly by attempting to force Lem to cooperate by using a possible jail sentence as leverage, after learning that Lem had earlier kept some drugs he was supposed to turn over to evidence. The season also focuses on Vic and the Strike Team's efforts to end Kavanaugh's investigation and protect Lem.[3]

Wagenbach and Wyms investigate a riot at a high school that stemmed from racial tensions. Lemansky gets an unexpected visit from Internal Affairs Lt. Jon Kavanaugh. Lowe tries out his new role as training officer for rookie Tina Hanlon, and Sofer refuses to disclose the father of her baby.

Lemansky is interrogated by Kavanaugh and Aceveda about the Strike Team's corrupt past. The Strike Team investigates multiple homicides and an extortion scam, and Wagenbach and Wyms investigate a preacher about attempted murder. Hanlon causes problems for Lowe and Sofer.

The Strike Team figures out their next step concerning Internal Affairs' investigation into Lemansky; they send Hanlon undercover to help take down a sex-trafficking operation. Wagenbach feels betrayed by Wyms when she re-opens one of his cases, and Mackey comes face-to-face with Kavanaugh.

Becca Doyle contemplates whether or not to represent the Strike Team in court, Mackey questions Emolia's loyalty. Wagenbach and Wyms investigate a case of road rage that escalated to a double homicide. Hanlon's continuing mistakes create friction between her and Lowe, and Corrine has a confrontation with Kavanaugh.

Kavanaugh bugs the Strike Team's clubhouse in an effort to get his stalled investigation back on track as Mackey and the Strike Team investigate an illegal prescription drug ring. Wagenbach senses that Wyms is not being honest with him as they work a missing person's case.

The walls close in on Mackey when Kavanaugh sets up office in the Barn. An elusive serial killer re-enters Wagenbach and Wyms's lives, and Hanlon's discovery of Lowe's homosexual past adds a new level of tension to their relationship.

The Strike Team's solidarity begins to crack as Kavanaugh has Gardocki interrogated and he struggles to discover how Mackey got $65,000 that he gave to Corrine. The Strike Team investigates the murder of a drug dealer’s girlfriend and her daughter. Wyms's grueling effort to break Kleavon Gardner takes a toll on her health.

As Kavanaugh deals with the emotional circumstances surrounding the return of his ex-wife, he forges an unlikely alliance with Antwon Mitchell in his obsession to take down the Strike Team. Emoila, sent by Mackey, infiltrates a Salvadoran gang that has been stockpiling grenades. As Kavanaugh calms his mentally ill wife in one of the interrogation rooms, he realizes that the whole emotional scene may have been watched through the camera. Vic and Lemansky run from the recording room and Kavanaugh catches them. Vic menacingly smiles at Kavanaugh which infuriates him and he orders the arrest of Lemansky. Lemansky's badge and gun is taken and he's handcuffed by Julien and put behind bars. Kavanaugh visits Antwon Mitchell in Prison and agrees on a deal.

63

9

"Smoked"

Dean White

Sarah Fain & Elizabeth Craft & Glen Mazzara

March 7, 2006 (2006-03-07)

5012-05-509

With their finances frozen by Kavanaugh, the Strike Team is forced to find another way to make bail for Lemansky. Hanlon's future at The Barn is in doubt when she jeopardizes the safety of an undercover detective, and Corrine decides to confront Sofer about her baby's paternity.

Mackey strikes a deal with Antwon Mitchell that will guarantee Lemansky's safety in prison as Lemansky prepares to plead guilty. The deal unexpectedly goes awry, and Mackey takes drastic measures to protect Lemansky. A betrayal and uncontrollable circumstances threaten to damage Wagenbach and Wyms's longstanding friendship.

65

11

"Postpartum"

Stephen Kay

Adam E. Fierro & Shawn Ryan

March 21, 2006 (2006-03-21)

5012-05-511

Mackey arranges to get Lemansky out of the country to a new life in Mexico. Aceveda and Kavanaugh join forces to nail Mackey for harboring a fugitive. Wagenbach files for a transfer, and Sofer decides to inform her baby's father of his new child. Shane takes extreme steps to stop the investigation.

This 15-minute mini-episode was produced between the fifth and sixth seasons, and initially released to various websites in February 2007 as a promotion for season six.[4] It was later made available on the Season 5 DVD set.

After the funeral of Curtis Lemansky, Vic begins a personal investigation into his murder, attempting to get ahead of Dutch's official investigation. This is interspersed with flashbacks to a day two years prior, when Lem was the Barn's entrant in an annual inter-department arm wrestling competition.

Season 6 is mostly concerned with the attempts of the Strike Team to solve the murder of Lem and the aftermath of Vic's discovery that Shane was the killer. Other storylines include a new officer added to the team by Claudette who is intended to eventually replace Vic, Vic's attempt to save his job, and the investigation of the murder of several Mexicans.

With the Barn grieving over the loss of one of their own, Vic's quest to find his friend's killer puts him in the crosshairs of Kavanaugh. Things don't seem to go smoothly for Claudette when she attempts to settle into her new role as Captain. Ronnie and Vic begin to worry about Shane's unusual behavior. Meanwhile, Dutch and Billings investigate a mass murder in San Marcos.

As Kavanaugh closes in on him, Vic resorts to some extreme measures in order to find his best friend's killer. Claudette finds herself under the political microscope as a result of the San Marcos murders. Meanwhile, Danny receives some interesting news.

Vic receives bad news about his career as he comes close to apprehending Lem's suspected killer, while the secret Shane is keeping continues to eat away at him. Ronnie works with Dutch and Billings on a case. Meanwhile, Dutch finds himself in an awkward predicament with Tina.

In a rush to avenge Lem's murder, Vic discovers he may have killed the wrong man; Billings helps Dutch makes headway in the serial-rapist case; Mara is furious when she discovers Shane's affair, so he confesses to murdering Lem.

Claudette notices Hiatt's mistake when he makes an arrest, and Billings delivers shocking news to the department. Vic forms an alliance with Aceveda, while he waits for his review board hearing. Meanwhile, Shane's life keeps spiraling out of control, as he tries to protect both his and Vic's family from the wrath of the Armenian mob.

Season 7 has Vic and Aceveda teaming up to go after ruthless Mexican developer Cruz Pezuela, who's working for the cartel to buy property in Los Angeles. Another plotline includes Shane's increasingly dire situation with the Armenians, which Vic spins into a gang war between them and the Mexicans, hoping to kill two birds with one stone. Other storylines include Vic and Ronnie's attempt at killing Shane for Lem's murder, Dutch's futile efforts to stop a teenage killer before he starts, and Claudette's worsening condition. The later part of the season involves Vic's plan to secure a job at ICE before being forced out of the department without a pension, Shane being on the run with his family, and Aceveda's violent start on the road to becoming mayor.

Corrine finds herself in legal trouble, Vic works an angle to make himself valuable to the Armenian mob, and Tina targets a producer of adult entertainment. Cassidy's rage causes her to violently lash out at her mother.

Following a fire at an Armenian safe house, Rezian asks Vic to set up a meeting with the Mexicans. Meanwhile, an angry Cassidy goes to Danny with questions about her father, and Dutch questions a teenager that shot an intruder.

When the daughter of a drug kingpin is kidnapped, the Strike Team must free her without drawing attention to the fact that Agent Olivia Murray is following them. Meanwhile, serial killer Kleavon Gardner, soon to go on trial and defending himself, hits a nerve when he deposes Claudette; Dutch continues his effort to unmask teenager Lloyd as a potential serial killer, Danny pressures Vic to sign away his parental rights to their child, and Shane tries to turn Ronnie against Vic. Vic must also deal with Vernon Faber, a seemingly small time crook who may hold the key to bigger things.

81

6

"Animal Control"

Gwyneth Horder-Payton

John Hlavin & Angela Russo

October 7, 2008 (2008-10-07)

5012-07-706

Vic and Ronnie set up a Mexican-Armenian meeting, but tell the two sides different things, while keeping some pertinent details from Shane. Shane and former Strike Team adversary Tavon Garris team up uneasily as a six-year-old murder case heats up. Ellis Rezian is gunned down and Shane barely makes it out alive, realizing that he was set up to be killed along with Rezian by Vic and Ronnie. Ronnie gets a warning from Claudette about Vic's freelancing, and a naked sleepwalker is found in a warehouse with blood on his body that isn't his own.

Vic's review board hearing is moved up unexpectedly, putting new pressure on his mission to take down Pezuela, which hits another snag when the Feds take over the investigation of Robert Martin's murder. Meanwhile, Vic ramps up his quest to stay in his infant son's life, Shane tends to private business as he probes a prostitute's murder, and Dutch is disturbed by what he finds at Claudette's house when he and Billings investigate a neighborhood break-in.

83

8

"Parricide"

Guy Ferland

Kurt Sutter & Gary Lennon

October 21, 2008 (2008-10-21)

5012-07-708

Vic and Ronnie escape attempts on their lives, and when Ronnie's assailant is caught, Shane must think and act quickly. Meanwhile, with barely a week to go before he must turn in his badge, Vic offers Olivia a business proposition. He also has some dirty work to do for Pezuela, involving a priest whose church is in a location Pezuela finds inconvenient.

Vic closes in on Shane, Mara, and their sick young son, Claudette dismantles the Strike Team, Pezuela offers Aceveda "assistance" for his mayoral campaign, Rita Denton comes on to Dutch, and Billings' ex-wife and daughter are fearful when a registered sex offender moves into their neighborhood.

85

10

"Party Line"

Gwyneth Horder-Payton

Angela Russo & John Hlavin

November 4, 2008 (2008-11-04)

5012-07-710

While Shane remains held up in L.A. with Mara and Jackson, Corrine decides to cooperate with Dutch and Claudette, who are now spearheading the LAPD effort to bring down Vic. Meanwhile, Vic plays Aceveda, Pezuela, Beltran and ICE against each other. However, Ronnie's tempted to simply give up and run to Mexico, recommending that Vic run as well.

Corrine agrees to be Vic and Shane's go-between, and also agrees to cooperate with Claudette and Dutch as she does so. Meanwhile, Vic comes to an understanding with Aceveda and seeks one out with Olivia. Claudette assigns Ronnie to work with Julien in order to investigate the murder of a high-school football star. This keeps Ronnie out of the Barn, resulting in him being unable to intercept the letter Shane sent to Claudette detailing one of the Strike Team's "sins."

Olivia joins forces with the remnants of the Strike Team to catch a Mexican drug lord, and stop his shipment. Meanwhile, Dutch is thrust into a position to clean up Billings' mess. Vic confesses to all his prior crimes, including the execution-style slayings of Terry Crowley, Margos Dezerian, Guardo Lima, and many others, in the hopes that he will be protected under ICE's immunity deal, provided he helps secure Beltran's takedown.

Hurrying to close in on Beltran, Vic learns of Corrine's betrayal. Shane, pinned down by the cops with his family, takes desperate action. An upstart mayoral candidate troubles Aceveda. Dutch interrogates Lloyd about Rita's disappearance.